http://www.bsu.edu/news/press-center Ball State University Speakers Events RSS en-us Sun, 04 Oct 2026 03:41:13 -0400 https://www.bsu.edu/calendar/events/academics/business/2026/10/06/conversations-in-entrepreneurship-and-leadership-series-with-ryan-gard https://www.bsu.edu/calendar/events/academics/business/2026/10/06/conversations-in-entrepreneurship-and-leadership-series-with-ryan-gard Ryan Gard is vice president of Cintas Corporation’s North Central Region, where he leads with a focus on operational excellence, talent development, and performance. A 2006 Ball State University graduate, he began his career with Cintas as a sales representative and advanced through several leadership roles before assuming his current position. He also serves on the Miller College of Business Leadership and Management Advisory Board. Tue, 06 Oct 2026 11:00:00 -0400 https://www.bsu.edu/calendar/events/administrative/government-relations-community-engagement/all/2026/10/06/mildredtrivers https://www.bsu.edu/calendar/events/administrative/government-relations-community-engagement/all/2026/10/06/mildredtrivers Jeff Pearson, Mike Brockley, and George Wolfe are poets contributing and doing their best to follow Mildred’s legacy by continuing the poetry writing group she started in the early 1980s. This program will cover the group's origins and traditions, poetry written by current members, and an invitation to the audience to share their memories of Mildred and her family. Tue, 06 Oct 2026 13:30:00 -0400 https://www.bsu.edu/calendar/events/administrative/government-relations-community-engagement/all/2026/10/13/antiguaandtikal https://www.bsu.edu/calendar/events/administrative/government-relations-community-engagement/all/2026/10/13/antiguaandtikal Guatemala is a land of mystery and majesty, home to 1,700-year-old Mayan Temples, active volcanoes and the deepest lake in Central America. From the bustle of Guatemala City to the Mayan mystery of Tikal, Guatemala was an awesome experience that needs to be shared, and Deb Smith, recently returned from an Overseas Adventure Travel week, is eager to share her stories with you. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 13:30:00 -0400 https://www.bsu.edu/calendar/events/academics/english/2026/10/19/writing-for-young-people-with-varian-johnson https://www.bsu.edu/calendar/events/academics/english/2026/10/19/writing-for-young-people-with-varian-johnson The Ball State Writer-in-Residence program is thrilled to host Varian Johnson, award-winning author of middle grade and young adult fiction, in Muncie the week of October 19th-21st to read, write, learn, and talk with students in our community schools and after-school programs, and engage with community members around books and storytelling. The first event takes place on October 19th, 7:30 p.m. in the Pittenger Student Center Ballroom on "Writing for Young People". Mon, 19 Oct 2026 19:30:00 -0400 https://www.bsu.edu/calendar/events/academics/business/2026/10/20/dialogue-days https://www.bsu.edu/calendar/events/academics/business/2026/10/20/dialogue-days Join us for the largest student professional development event of the year, October 20-22. Network with alumni as they join us on campus to participate in numerous panel discussions. Alumni will share their experiences leading a range of industries, including manufacturing, financial services, and telecommunications. Networking and social opportunities complement professional development sessions and workshops. Tue, 20 Oct 2026 09:30:00 -0400 https://www.bsu.edu/calendar/events/academics/business/2026/10/20/conversations-in-entrepreneurship-and-leadership-series-with-marcus-hall https://www.bsu.edu/calendar/events/academics/business/2026/10/20/conversations-in-entrepreneurship-and-leadership-series-with-marcus-hall Marcus Hall is president and partner at California Closets Midwest, where he oversees operations across Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, and Ohio. With more than a decade of leadership experience, he guides a cross-functional team focused on delivering custom furniture and storage solutions while advancing innovation, operational excellence, and shared organizational goals. California Closets Midwest is part of Threefold, a permanent-equity firm that partners with specialty contracting companies serving the built environment. Tue, 20 Oct 2026 11:00:00 -0400 https://www.bsu.edu/calendar/events/administrative/government-relations-community-engagement/all/2026/10/20/memoryofmuncie https://www.bsu.edu/calendar/events/administrative/government-relations-community-engagement/all/2026/10/20/memoryofmuncie Muncie’s quality of place didn’t happen by accident, it’s the long-term result of decades of infrastructure growth, rising maintenance responsibilities, and development patterns that change slowly and compound over time. This presentation tells Muncie’s growth story through an infrastructure lens, explains why real change can’t happen overnight, and argues that this reality isn’t hopeless—it’s manageable. Tue, 20 Oct 2026 13:30:00 -0400 https://www.bsu.edu/calendar/events/academics/english/2026/10/21/varian-johnson-and-ashley-c-ford-in-conversation https://www.bsu.edu/calendar/events/academics/english/2026/10/21/varian-johnson-and-ashley-c-ford-in-conversation The Ball State Writer-in-Residence program is thrilled to host Varian Johnson, award-winning author of middle grade and young adult fiction, in Muncie the week of October 19th-21st to read, write, learn, and talk with students in our community schools and after-school programs, and engage with community members around books and storytelling. At 1:00 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom on October 21st, there will be a fiction reading followed by an on-stage interview with Ball State alum—and New York Times bestselling memoirist—Ashley C. Ford. Wed, 21 Oct 2026 13:00:00 -0400 https://www.bsu.edu/calendar/events/academics/english/2026/10/21/pizza-party-meet-and-greet-with-writer-varian-johnson https://www.bsu.edu/calendar/events/academics/english/2026/10/21/pizza-party-meet-and-greet-with-writer-varian-johnson The Ball State Writer-in-Residence program is thrilled to host Varian Johnson, award-winning author of middle grade and young adult fiction, in Muncie the week of October 19th-21st to read, write, learn, and talk with students in our community schools and after-school programs, and engage with community members around books and storytelling. At 5:30 p.m. at the Ross Community Center, pizza and dessert will be served and Varian Johnson will be available to sign books after the event. Wed, 21 Oct 2026 17:30:00 -0400 https://www.bsu.edu/calendar/events/academics/business/2026/10/27/conversations-in-entrepreneurship-and-leadership-series-with-stephen-hall https://www.bsu.edu/calendar/events/academics/business/2026/10/27/conversations-in-entrepreneurship-and-leadership-series-with-stephen-hall Stephen Hall is co-founder of Tinker Coffee Co., a specialty coffee roaster founded in Indianapolis in 2014. After working in the wine industry, he discovered a passion for specialty coffee and launched the company with his brother-in-law, Jeff Johnson. Tinker Coffee Co. now operates five Indianapolis cafés, two locations at Indianapolis International Airport, and a growing e-commerce and wholesale roasting business throughout the Midwest. Tue, 27 Oct 2026 11:00:00 -0400 https://www.bsu.edu/calendar/events/administrative/government-relations-community-engagement/all/2026/10/27/grandfathersdorms https://www.bsu.edu/calendar/events/administrative/government-relations-community-engagement/all/2026/10/27/grandfathersdorms This session will look at a brief history of housing at colleges and universities. The presentation pays close attention to the housing history of Ball State University and how this compares to the growth of housing operations at American Universities. The presentation includes a photo history of Ball State’s housing. Tue, 27 Oct 2026 13:30:00 -0400 https://www.bsu.edu/calendar/events/academics/cecl/2026/10/28/elie-wiesel-soul-on-fire https://www.bsu.edu/calendar/events/academics/cecl/2026/10/28/elie-wiesel-soul-on-fire Join us for a free screening of Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire and an in-person discussion with director Oren Rudavsky. October 28 at 7:30 p.m. in AJ 175. Advance registration is encouraged; walk-ins are welcome. Wed, 28 Oct 2026 19:30:00 -0400 https://www.bsu.edu/calendar/events/academics/cap/2026/11/02/thomas-woltz_sappenfield-lecturer https://www.bsu.edu/calendar/events/academics/cap/2026/11/02/thomas-woltz_sappenfield-lecturer Join us for a special lecture featuring renowned landscape architect Thomas L. Woltz, FASLA, as he shares insights from his award-winning work shaping meaningful public landscapes around the world. Mon, 02 Nov 2026 04:00:00 -0500 https://www.bsu.edu/calendar/events/administrative/government-relations-community-engagement/all/2026/11/03/treestories https://www.bsu.edu/calendar/events/administrative/government-relations-community-engagement/all/2026/11/03/treestories Most people know that you can determine the age of some trees by counting their annual growth ring. However, those growth rings can tell us so much more. Measurement of dated tree-rings have been used to determine when the Anasazi built their large community in the American Southwest and to document the mega drought that forced them to leave these homes. After listening to this presentation, you will never look at trees the same way again. Tue, 03 Nov 2026 13:30:00 -0500 https://www.bsu.edu/calendar/events/administrative/government-relations-community-engagement/all/2026/11/10/veteransday https://www.bsu.edu/calendar/events/administrative/government-relations-community-engagement/all/2026/11/10/veteransday Operation Iceberg-Heroes of the Fleet - Okinawa was the last battle of the war. The casualties were greater and the duration longer than any battle of the war. It was nearly beyond what the mind could absorb and yet it would be a small percentage of the ferocity of the battle to come. Nobody can take away from the sacrifice of our soldiers and marines. Few understand the sacrifice of our sailors. This is a story of near misses, miracles, loss, and stand-your-ground heroism. Tue, 10 Nov 2026 13:30:00 -0500 https://www.bsu.edu/calendar/events/academics/english/2026/11/12/reading-and-book-signing-with-indiana-author-melissa-fraterrigo https://www.bsu.edu/calendar/events/academics/english/2026/11/12/reading-and-book-signing-with-indiana-author-melissa-fraterrigo The Creative Writing Program Visiting Writer Series and Women’s, Gender and African American Studies welcome Indiana author, Melissa Fraterrigo for a reading and book signing, Thursday, November 12, 5:00 PM in Robert Bell 125. Thu, 12 Nov 2026 17:00:00 -0500 https://www.bsu.edu/calendar/events/academics/business/2026/11/17/conversations-in-entrepreneurship-and-leadership-series-with-roman-baisa https://www.bsu.edu/calendar/events/academics/business/2026/11/17/conversations-in-entrepreneurship-and-leadership-series-with-roman-baisa Roman Baisa is a real estate entrepreneur and the founder of Carmel Tipsy Tour. He graduated from Ball State University in 2018 where he played baseball. Since then, he has built a real estate business that has sold over $70 million in sales and has built a life of independence through entrepreneurship. Tue, 17 Nov 2026 11:00:00 -0500 https://www.bsu.edu/calendar/events/administrative/government-relations-community-engagement/all/2026/11/17/taxtimeafter65 https://www.bsu.edu/calendar/events/administrative/government-relations-community-engagement/all/2026/11/17/taxtimeafter65 Why 65 Changes the Rules, Your Income Picture After 65, The Three Big Deductions for 2026, Medical, Given, and Itemizing—When to Skip the Standard Deduction, RMD’s, Roths, and Timing Withdrawals, Indiana -Specific, Q&A and Resources Tue, 17 Nov 2026 13:30:00 -0500 https://www.bsu.edu/calendar/events/administrative/government-relations-community-engagement/all/2026/11/24/dickens https://www.bsu.edu/calendar/events/administrative/government-relations-community-engagement/all/2026/11/24/dickens Charles Dickens and Christmas have been inextricably linked in the popular imagination since the publication of “A Christmas Carol” in 1843. This talk explores the circumstances under which Dickens wrote the novella, the place it occupies in its author’s career, and the impact it made from the beginning in promoting benevolence and charity. Adapted for stage, radio and screen, nearly two centuries later it retains its power to move and inspire. Tue, 24 Nov 2026 13:30:00 -0500